Modern  Emigrant 


A  DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED    IN    THB    CITY    OF   NEW-YORK, 


BY  THE 


REV.  J.  M.  HORNER, 

AUTHOR,    OF    'IMMERSION,     THE    ONLY    SCRIPTURAL    MODK    0*    BAPTISIN9  j !   OT  ( 
•  MODERN  PERSECUTION,    A  POEM  ;'    ANI)  ^   AND  SPIR1TOAI.    8OS03, 

COLLECTED,     ARRA.NGBD,     AND    COMPOSED     FOR     THE      USB     O?.    1 


•peak,   v 


NEW-YORK : 

BY  VV.  MITCHELL,  365,  BOWK»T. 


MODERN  EMIGRANT; 

UCSB   EIBRAR 


BEINO 


A  DISCOURSE, 

DELIVERED    IN    THE    CITY  OF    NEW-YORK, 


BY  THE 


REV.  J.  M.  HORNER, 

AUTHOR.  O»  '  IMMERSION,  THE  ONLY  SCRIPTURAL  MODE  OF  BAPTISING','  OF 
'  MODERN  PERSECUTION,  A  POEM  ;'  AND  OF  '  HYMNS  AND  SPIRITUAL  BONOS, 
COLLECTED,  ARRANGED,  AND  COMPOSED  FOK  THX  USE  OF  THE  UNION 
BAPTISTS.' 


O  let  me  take  ray  eagle  flight, 
Where  Liberty  is  known  and  felt ; 
Where  no  despotic  power  can  reign, 
Over  the  souls  or  minds  of  men. 
May  I  but  scale  the  mountain  top, 
Or  dwell  within  some  humble  cot, 
Where  1  may  freely  wiite  or  speak, 
Those  thoughts  which  reason  generate. 


NEW-YORK : 

PRINTED  BY  W.  MITCHELL,  265,  BOWERY. 


1832. 


INTRODUCTION. 


My  CHRISTIAN  FRIENDS, — When  I  was  invited  to  address 
you  in  the  character  of  a  Minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  thought  it 
would  not  be  amiss  to  submit  to  your  notice  my  reasons  for 
leaving  the  land  of  my  nativity,  my  beloved  relations,  and  my 
pastoral  charge.  If  I  do  this,  I  must  not  only  advert  to  the  state 
of  religion  in  England,  bui,  to  the  laws  and  politics  of  that  country. 
I  know  that  many  professors,  and  some  of  the  best  of  Christians, 
are  opposed  to  the  idea  of  ministers  introducing  politics  in  their 
discourses. 

I  am  one  of  those  who  think  that  Ministers  should  not -give 
themselves  to  poliiics,  so  as  to  unfit  them  for  the  discharge  o 
their  more  important  duties.  But  that  they  should  watch  the 
proceedings  of  the  government  under  which  they  live,  make 
themselves  acquainted  with  the  politics  of  their  own  country, 
and  recommend  to  the  people  of  their  charge  good  and  whole- 
some laws,  must  be  evident  to  every  impartial  mind. 

If  a  Minister  should  see  the  people  of  his  charge  laden  with 
an  unjust  taxation,  imposed  upon  by  a  heavy  tithe  system, 
and  laboring  under  disabilities  because  of  their  religious  and 
Christian  creed,  without  speaking,  writing,  or  exercising  his 
influence  for  their  emancipation,  in  my  opinion  he  would  be 
cruel  to  an  extreme,  enthusiastic  beyond  measure,  or  destitute 
of  the  common  feelings  of  humanity.  To  say  that  the  professors 
of  religion  should  not  concern  themselves  about  the  laws  of  their 
country,  and  the  politics  which  surround  them,  is  to  say  that  the 
Dissenters  of  England  should  endure  their  religious  disabilities, 
their  cruel  tithe  system,  their  oppressive  government,  without 
speaking  about  them,  or  writing  on  the  subject,  or  even  petitioning 
their  Legislature  for  their  liberty  and  support.  Were  I  called 
upon  for  a  further  justification  for  glancing  at  temporal  govern- 
ments in  my  discourses,  I  would  do  it  by  observing,  that  the 
prophets  in  their  predictions,  and  the  apostles  in  preaching,  often 
noticed  the  governments  under  which  they  lived,  and  the  politics 
which  surrounded  them. 


A  DISCOURSE. 


"  Then  Philip  went  down  to  the  city  of  Samaria, 
and  preached  Christ  unto  them.9' — Acts,  8, 5.^ 


SAMARIA,  in  the  original,  tpnofr.  The  root  of 
which  is  IQP  and  signifies  to  keep,  watch,  guard. 
Observe  in  yinv  or  Samaria,  the  Lord's  people 
were  kept 

1.  From  the  oppression  of  their  enemies,  and 
many  of  the  troubles  which  the  wars  among  them 
occasioned. 

2.  In  that  city  the  Lord's  chosen  people  had  to 
"  watch  and  "  guard"  against  the  encroachments  of 
idolatry,  and  the  influence  of  error. 

This  city  stood  about  twenty  miles  north  of 
Jerusalem,  being  twelve  miles  south  of  Dothan. 
This  was  a  city  of  the  Ephraimites,  the  capital  of 
the  ten  tribes  of  Israel :  it  was  once  wholly  given 
up  to  idolatry.  At  that  time,  the  Jews  being 
afflicted  with  wars,  fled  to  Samaria  for  shelter, 
and  introduced  their  holy  religion  among  its  in- 
habitants. 

When  Philip  went  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ 
to  the  Samaritans,  he  found  them  in  possession  of 
copies  of  the  laws  of  Moses,  which  were  corrupted 
with  sundry  mistakes.  Not  merely  those  which  arose 
from  the  transcribers  mistaking  one  Hebrew  letter 
for  another,  but  because  they  were  mixed  with 
tenets  in  favour  of  idolatry. 

Those  two  circumstances,  namely,  that  of  the 
Jews  fleeing  to  Samaria  from  the  storm  of  persecu- 
tion, and  that  of  Philip  going  to  preach  the  goipel  to 


6 

the  Samaritans,  reminds  me  of  our  venerable  English 
forefathers,  who,  when  the  rod  of  oppression  was 
shook  over  the  English  nation,  and  its  Monarch 
descended  from  the  throne  of  justice  to  exercise  an 
undue  authority,  by  inflicting  pains  and  penalties, 
and  confiscating  the  goods  of  those  who  dared  to 
think  for  themselves  in  matters  relative  to  their 
souls  and  their  God,  fled  from  the  land  which 
gave  their  birth,  and  to  which  they  were  attached 
by  many  reciprocal  ties.  But  where  did  they  flee  ? 
Not  to  any  of  the  European  nations,  for  by  so  doing 
they  would  not  have  bettered  their  condition  ; — not 
to  any  of  the  nations  professedly  Christian,  for  even 
there,  I  blush  to  add,  an  intolerant  spirit  reigned. 
They  fled  to  this  country,  now  called  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  where  they,  like  the  Jews, 
or  like  Philip,  introduced  their  holy  religion  wherever 
they  went. 

Although  the  spirit  of  intolerance  is  in  a  measure 
subsided,  and  freedom  of  thought  and  the  exercise 
of  private  judgment  allowed,  yet  a  spirit  of  emi- 
gration prevails  in  eveiy  part  of  England,  for  her 
inhabitants  are  flocking  to  this  country  by  hundreds 
and  by  thousands.  It  is  true  that  these  modern 
emigrants  may  not  have  the  same  reasons  for  leaving 
their  native  land  as  their  forefathers,  nevertheless 
they  may  have  had  powerful  motives  for  taking  up 
their  abode  in  this  countiy.  Whether  this  be  true 
or  not  with  regard  to  many,  it  is  true  with  regard  to 
myself;  for  I  can  assure  you  that  I  have  not  given  up 
my  cottage  of  superfluity,  my  home  of  comforts,  my 
house  of  temporal  and  spiritual  mercies,  my  dearest 
relations,  who  were  tied  to  me  by  the  remembrance 
of  their  fostering  care,  my  pastoral  charge,  who 
lived  in  my  heart  and  partook  of  my  homely,  but  I 
hope  the  spiritual  productions  of  my  study ; — my 
native  country,  the  inhabitants  of  which  are  as  brave 
and  famous  as  any  in  the  world,  who  are  a  repo- 
sitory of  arts  and  sciences,  and  a  library  of  intellectual 


wealth ; — I  say  I  have  not  given  up  all  these  with- 
out powerful  inducements  and  reasons  for  taking 
such  an  important  step.  If  I  were  called  upon  to 
give  those  reasons,  I  would  cheerfully  do  so,  among 
which  the  following*  would  have  a  place : 

1.  Because  of  the  influence  of  a  bad  Government. 

You  know  that  the  inhabitants  of  any  country  are 
in  a  great  measure  influenced  by  the  Government 
which  exists  among"  them. 

You  may  know  from  history,  and  I  know  by  expe- 
rience, that  an  aristocratical  government  is  generally, 
if  not  always,  tyrannical  in  its  enactments,  oppressive 
in  its  measures,  and  covetous  in  its  demands.  This 
I  know  to  be  the  case  with  the  English  Govern- 
ment, for  while  it  is  desirous  of  exceeding  eveiy 
other  country  in  its  national  splendour  and  ornamen- 
tal palaces,  it  robs,  plunders,  and  deprives  the  Lan- 
cashire weavers,  the  farmers'  labourers,  and  the  parish 
paupers  of  the  common  necessities  of  life,  by  its 
enormous  salaries  and  oppressive  taxation.  For 
there  are  taxes  on  the  man  of  God,  who  bestows 
his  gratuitous  and  theological  lectures  on  the  villagers; 
taxes  on  the  widow,  who  consecrates  her  mud- walled 
cot  to  the  worship  of  Jehovah ;  taxes  on  the  house 
of  God,  which  has  been  raised  by  the  voluntary 
subscription  of  the  poor.  And  what  is  worse  than 
all  is,  that  if  the  aged  and  infirm  invite  their  minister 
to  preach  in  their  parlour,  and  if  the  conscience  of 
die  man  of  God  dictates  to  him  his  exclusive  alle- 
giance to  his  Supreme  in  matters  of  religion,  and  he 
banishes  from  his  creed  the  idea  of  asking  man 
whether  or  not  he  may  do  his  duty  to  his  God ;  and 
should  he  comply  with  the  request  of  those  who 
entertain  the  same  views,  and  thus  deliver  his  gospel 
sermon  to  twenty-two  or  more  aged,  infirm,  and 
worn-out  pilgrims,  the  one  must  be  liable  "to  the 


8 

penalty  of  ten  pounds,  and  the  other  to  the  penalty 
of  forty  pounds.     (George  III.  cap.  155.) 

Besides  these  fines  and  penalties  on  things  per- 
taining to  God,  there  are  taxes  on  every  article 
which  enters  the  mouth,  or  covers  the  back,  or  is 
placed  under  the  foot.  Taxes  upon  every  thing 
which  is  pleasant  to  see,  hear,  feel,  smell,  and  taste ; 
taxes  upon  warmth,  light,  and  locomotion;  taxes 
on  every  thing  on  earth,  and  the  waters  under  the*> 
earth ;  on  every  thing  from  abroad,  or  that  is  grown 
at  home  ;  taxes  on  the  raw  material ;  taxes  on  every 
value  that  is  added  to  it  by  the  industry  of  man ; 
taxes  on  the  sauce  which  pampers  man's  appetite, 
and  the  drug  which  restores  him  to  health ;  taxes  on 
the  ermine  which  decorates  the  judge,  the  rope 
which  hangs  the  criminal,  and  the  brass  nails  of  the 
coffin ;  taxes  on  the  ribands  of  the  bride ;  at  bed  or 
at  board,  couchant  or  levant,  they  must  pay.  The 
schoolboy  whips  his  taxed  top,  the  beardless  youth 
manages  his  taxed  horse  with  a  taxed  bridle,  on 
a  taxed  road ;  and  the  dying  Englishman  pouring  his 
medicine,  which  has  paid  7  per  cent,  into  a  spoon 
which  has  paid  15  per  cent.,  throws  himself  back 
upon  his  chintz  bed,  which  has  paid  22  per  cent., 
makes  his  will  on  an  eight-pound  stamp,  and  expires 
in  the  arms  of  an  apothecary,*  who  has  paid  one 
hundred  pounds  for  the  privilege  of  putting  him  to 
death.  His  whole  property  is  then  taxed  from 
two  to  ten  per  cent.  Besides  the  probate,  large 
fees  are  demanded  for  burying  him  in  the  chancel ; 
his  virtues  are  handed  down  to  posterity  on  taxed 
marble,  and  he  is  then  gathered  to  his  fathers  to  be 
taxed  no  more. 

Now,  when  we  are  thus  oppressed  with  something 
like  Egyptian  bondage,  and  surrounded  with  fallen 

*No  druggist  or  doctor  in  England  can  sell  medicine,  or 
practise  physic,  without  first  paying  one  hundred  pounds  to 
Government. 


cheeks,  the   impoverished   circumstances,  and   the 
cries  of  the  poor,  it  cannot  but  affect  the  feeling-s  of 
humanity.     And  like  a  swallow,  which  from   the 
laws  of  nature   predicts  the  near  approach  of  an 
inclement  season,  takes  her  anticipating'  flight  to 
some  distant  region,  where  she  may  enjoy  her  liberty, 
and  a  full  supply  of  the  calls  of  nature,  so  humanity, 
affected  by  the  heart-rending  scenes  of  poverty,  and 
exorbitant  demands  of  usurpers,  cannot  but  desire  to 
take  her  flight  to  some  distant  shore,  where  she 
may  not  be  so  much  annoyed.    The  means,  too, 
by  which  that  Government  is  formed,  the  materials 
of  which  it  is  composed,  are  also  appalling-  to  the 
reflecting1  mind.   Here  I  do  not  allude  to  the  majority 
of  the  House  of  Parliament,  nor  to  those  illustrious 
characters — characters  to  whom  nature  has  given 
talents,   and  to  whose  minds  reason  has  dictated 
sound  and  political  ideas — who  are  the  ornaments  of 
their  country,  the  political  lights  of  the  world,  and 
theWashingtbns  of  their  day, — but  to  those  charac- 
ters and  that  hereditary  system,  which  makes  the 
throne  of  England  groan  with  the  weight  of  novices, 
and    crowds  the  Upper  House  with  characters, 
whom  nature  never  formed  for  an  important  office, 
and  for  whom  reason  never  demanded  enormous 
salaries.     I  cannot  stay  to  be  more  explicit  on  these 
particulars ;   suffice  it  to  say,   that  I  believe  the 
English  Government  to  be  a  mixture  of  Heathenism, 
Popery,   and  Protestantism.     Such  is  its  nature, 
that  I  believe  the  present  day  would  blush  to  give 
it  birth,  and  that  none  but  the  dark  ages  of  Popery 
could  have  sent  it  into  existence. 

2.  Because  of  the  state  of  the  Church  in  that 
country. 

I  admit  that  in  every  corner  of  that  country,  the 
gospel  is  preached,  and  the  number  of  gospel 
ministers  is  abundant,  many  of  whom  evince  extra- 


10 

ordinary  talents ;  but,  alas !  the  church  is  afflicted 
with  scepticism,  with  imbecility  of  faith,  with  a 
deadness  of  soul  in  spiritual  matters,  with  divisions 
and  subdivisions,  contentions  and  stiife.  There  are 
but  a  few  ministers  who  are  satisfied  with  their 
people,  or  whose  people  are  satisfied  with  them. 
Should  a  minister  step  out  of  the  common  formal 
path,  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  speckled  bird,  and  set 
up  as  a  mark  to  be  shot  at.  Such  a  stale  of  Chris- 
tianity is  sufficient  to  induce  us  to  say,  from  such 
"  Good  Lord  deliver  us."  Here  I  would  observe, 
that  I  have  desired  to  enjoy  a  more  pure  religious 
atmosphere,  and  the  friendly  company  of  those  who 
are  more  zealous  in  matters  pertaining  to  God,  and 
the  salvation  of  men;  and  since  American  Chris- 
tians have  been  represented  to  me  to  be  such  like 
characters,  I  have  ventured  to  come  and  witness 
their  zeal  for  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

3.  Because  of  Acquaintances   and    Christian 
Friends. 

Many  of  these  have  emigrated  to  this  country, 
whose  talents  will  command  respect,  whose  pious 
demeanour  will  make  them  ornaments  to  America, 
and  whose  heavenly  graces  will  enable  them  to 
adorn  their  Christian  profession.  Do  not  say  that 
this  is  a  small  inducement ;  for  the  desire  to  enjoy 
the  company  of  pious,  intimate,  and  long-tried  friends, 
induced  a  Hobab  and  a  Jacob  to  leave  the  land^of 
their  nativity.  I  pity  the  soul  that  is  destitute  of 
natural  affection,  for  it  betrays  a  littleness  of  mind  ; 
but  I  more  especially  pity  the  soul  that  is  destitute 
of  love,  for  it  displays  a  want  of  that  grace  which  is 
the  most  essential  virtue  to  the  Christian. 

4.  Became  of  the  reputed  and  reviving  state  of 
Christianity  in  this  country. 

The  revivals  of  religion  in  America,  form  a  very 


11 

general  topic  of  conversation  in  England ;  and  many 
a  time  when  I  have  read  of  them,  my  heart  has 
burned  with  a  sacred  desire  to  be  among-  them.  The 
revival  of  Christianity,  the  political  views  of  the 
people,  and  the  constitution  of  the  United  States, 
have  been  topics  of  close  study  and  deep  interest  to 
me  for  seven  years  past ;  and  such  were  my  views, 
that  I  consider  I  should  have  been  remiss  in  my  duty, 
and  pierced  my  heart  through  with  many  sorrows, 
had  I  not  visited  America. 

I  have  now  submitted  to  your  consideration,  my 
reasons  for  the  important  step  I  have  taken;  and, 
therefore  I  shall  proceed  to  notice — 

1.  The  time  to  which  the  text  refers  us. 

That  was  a  time  of  violent  persecution  to  the 
church — a  time  when  the  political  atmosphere  in 
which  they  breathed,  the  Mosaical  partialities,  and 
the  deep-rooted  prejudices  of  the  Jews,  appeared  to 
form  a  dark  cloud,  which  threatened  the  annihilation 
of  the  church  ; — a  time  when  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness appeared  to  be  sunk  in  his  orbit,  and  the  light 
of  the  gospel  to  withdraw  its  shining; — a  time, 
when  the  powers  of  darkness  appeared  to  be  let 
loose,  and  to  seize  with  a  salacious  and  insatiable 
desire  upon  the  innocent  lambs  of  the  fold  of  Christ ; 
— a  time,  when  the  hope  of  preserving  Christianity 
to  evangelize  the  earth  must  have  been  faint,  and 
when  the  combined  circumstances,  the  united  powers 
and  wickedness  of  men,  appeared  to  predict  the 
downfal  of  the  Christian  empire,  and  the  giving  up 
of  the  world  to  heathenish  superstition.  But,  O 
my  friends,  "  be  not  faithless,  but  believing ;  rejoice, 
and  be  exceedingly  glad ;"  for  although  this  was  a 
time  of  thundering,  Jehovah  was  behind  the  cloud, 
and  laughed  at  impossibilities  ;  and  as  he  has  loved 
his  church  with  an  "  everlasting  love,"  and  has 


12 

promised  that  the  "  gates  of  hell  shall  never  prevail 
against  it,"  so  will  he  subvert  the  powers  of  dark- 
nesss,  frustrate  the  wicked  designs  of  the  ungodly, 
and  cause  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him.  Yea, 
God  did  over-rule  that  persecution,  and  caused  it  to 
disperse  the  Apostles  to  disseminate  the  gospel,  and 
build  up  his  church.  Through  that  persecution,  the 
gospel  was  sent  to  Samaria,  to  the  Gentiles,  to 
Rome,  to  Spain,  to  France,  and  to  England ;  and 
when  the  violent  hand  of  persecution  was  raised 
in  England  against  the  Non-Conformists,  they  fled 
to  this  country,  and  brought  with  them  the  mild 
truths,  the  enlightening  truths,  the  all-glorious  and 
soul-reviving  truths  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

II.  We  have  here  a  particular  account  of  what 
Philip  did ;  and,  therefore,  let  us  notice — 

1.  The  place  he  chose. 

It  was  Samaria,  which,  in  the  New  Testament, 
signifies  the  territory  between  Judea  and  Galilee, 
and  where  the  tribes  of  Ephraim,  Manasseh,  and 
Issachar,  had  dwelt.  We  might  have  supposed 
that  Samaria  was  the  last  place  that  Philip  would 
have  visited,  and  that  there  was  the  least  probability 
of  introducing  the  gospel  there,  because  of  the  deep- 
rooted  prejudices  of  its  inhabitants  against  the  Jews, 
so  much  so,  that  they  even  refused  civil  dealings 
with  them.  (John,  iv.  9.)  And  we  all  know  that 
prejudice,  which  is  invariably  connected  with  igno- 
rance, forms  a  mighty  barrier  to  the  introduction  of 
any  doctrine,  however  scriptural  that  doctrine  may 
be;  therefore  we  see,  that  if  we  are  desirous  of 
being  informed  how  necessary  it  is  that  our  minds 
possess  "  Charity, — Charity,  which  doth  not  behave 
herself  unseemly ;"  which  deliberately  meditates  on 
every  new  idea  which  strikes  the  mind ; — Charity, 
which  will  not  allow  herself  to  be  influenced  by  sec- 


13 

tarianisrn,  nor  confined  within  the  precincts  of  a  party 
spirit ; — Charity  which  always  listens  to  the  voice 
of  Reason,  and  with  calmness  and  deliberation  at- 
tends to  logical  productions. 

2.  The  means  Philip  used  to  gain  success. 

Those  were  not  the  artificial  show  of  heathenism, 
nor  the  theatrical  or  priestly  splendour  of  the  Papists, 
which  merely  work  upon  the  senses  without  carry- 
ing conviction  to  the  heart ;  neither  did  he  act  like 
Mahomet,  who  enforced  his  doctrines,  and  imposed 
his  dogmas  by  sword  and  bloodshed,  by  fines  and 
penalties ;  but  he  gave  plain  statements  of  divine 
truths,  accompanied  with  the  working-  of  miracles, 
which  spoke  volumes  to  eveiy  reflecting-  mind,  and 
carried  with  them  a  conviction  of  the  holy  truths  he 
preached. 

See  what  the  Gospel  Word  can  do, 
When  plainly  stated,  and  set  forth  ; 
What  mighty  changes  it  achieves, 
Whene'er  it  is  received  by  Faith. 

3.  The  success  which  attended  Philip's  labours. 

We  may  here  observe  that  his  success  was  very 
great,  for  the  Holy  Ghost  has  stated,  "  That  when 
the  people  saw  the  miracles  which  Philip  wrought, 
and  heard  him  preach  the  thing-s  concerning-  the 
kingdom  of  God,  and  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
they  were  baptized,  both  men  and  women,"  which 
circumstance  occasioned  great  and  general  joy  in 
that  city.  We  may  also  consider  that  this  great 
work  of  conversion  was  not  confined  to  the  metro- 
polis of  that  country,  but  that  it  spread  into  all  the 
suburbs  and  villages  of  the  Samaritans.  Thus  we 
see  that  the  word  ran  among  them  like  fire  among 
dry  stubble,  which  I  consider  amply  shows  that  the 
work  was  of  God ;  so  that  we  perceive  when 


14 

the  gospel  is  preached  in  its  purity,  it  is  powerful 
and  highly  calculated  to  bring  men  to  themselves, 
to  religion,  and  to  God. 

The  Gospel  is  a  mighty  sword,  ' 
Which  slays  the  selfishness  of  men  ; 
It  brings  their  souls  to  know  the  Lord, 
And  shows  them  how  a  heaven  to  gain. 

III.  There  are  two  or  three  considerations,  which, 
if  noticed,  will  tend  to  show  that  Philip's  success 
was  extraordinary ;  and  those  were 

1.  We  may  consider  that  many  centuries  prior  to 
that  time,  and  even  down  to  the  moment  that  Philip 
began  preaching  among  them,  they  had  been  given 
up  to  idolatry,  and  that  the  idolaters  were  always 
prejudiced  against  Christianity. 

2.  That  the  minds  of  the  Samaritans  were  em- 
bittered against  Jerusalem  in  particular,  and  the 
Jews  in  general. 

3.  That  at  that  time  Simon  the  Sorcerer  gave 
out  that  he  was  a  great  character,  who  mightily 
deluded  the  people  by  his  wickedness  and  magic 
art ;  for  to  him  they  had  regard,  yea  he  had  long 
ascended  the  throne  of  their  minds,  and  ruled  with 
a  mighty  influence  over  their  sentiments  and  con- 
duct.    Now,  when  we  consider  that  those  great 
obstacles  which  stood  in  the  way  to  an  introduction 
of  the  gospel  among  the  Samaritans,  were  overcome 
by  the  preaching  of  Philip,  it  will  be  evident  that 
his  success  was  extraordinary. 

IV.  The  work  in  which  Philip  employed  himself 
when  at  the  city  of  Samaria.   "  He  preached  Christ 
unto  them ;"  that  is,  he  preached  the  Saviour  unto 
them  as  an  all-sufficient  sacrifice  to  be  offered  to 
justice  for  the  sins  of  his  people ;  and,  in  order  to  do 
this,  he  must  have  preached — 


15 

1.  Their  incapability  to  atone  for  themselves ; 

For  they  would  not  accept  of  a  sacrifice  on  their 
behalf,  except  they  were  fir*t  convinced  of  their  need 
of  one.  They  could  not  receive  such  a  conviction, 
without  being  shown  their  fallen  state  as  sinners, 
their  weakness  and  infirmity. 

2.  Philip  must  have  preached  Christ's  mysterious 
union  with  Deity. 

If  he  showed  them  their  utter  incapability  to 
atone  for  themselves,  he  must  likewise  have  pre- 
sented to  their  consideration  a  superior  character, 
who  possessed  a  capability  to  obey  the  MosaicaA 
law,  and  who  by  his  death  could  satisfy  the  demands 
of  Divine  Justice  :  therefore  he  preached  Christ  un- 
to them  as  a  mighty  God  come  in  the  flesh  to 
destroy  the  works  of  the  Devil ;  as  a  Saviour  most 
eminently  fitted ;  who  could  restore  their  lapsed 
powers,  and  implant  in  them  heavenly  tempers ; — 
whose  mysterious  incarnation  could  endear  them  to 
God ; — whose  natural  birth  could  procure  their 
spiritual  regeneration ; — and  whose  unspotted  life 
could  restore  them  to  a  blissful  immortality. 
Methinks  that  he  would  preach  him  as  the  joy  of 
mourners,  the  glory  of  the  infamous,  and  the  salva- 
tion of  the  lost. 

Yea,  he  would  preach  Christ  as  being  wonderful 
in  his  prophetic,  priestly,  and  kingly  offices  : — as  one 
who  had  gained  a  triumphant  conquest  over  death, 
hell,  and  all  his  inveterate  enemies  : — as  one  whose 
doctrines  would  trample  upon  the  arguments  of  the 
subtle,  the  power  of  princes,  the  blindness  of  zeal, 
the  force  of  custom,  the  pleasures  of  sin,  and  all  the 
attempts  of  the  wicked.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  that 
his  extensive  mind,  his  ardent  soul,  his  honest  heart, 
were  all  impressed  with  the  greatness  of  his  work, 
the  importance  of  his  character,  and  the  glory  of  his 
Master. 


16 

3.  Philip  must  have  preached  the  manner  of 
Christ's  crucifixion  and  death. 

He  showed  them  the  analogy  of  the  predictions 
of  the  Prophets,  with  Christ's  life,  miracles,  and 
death ;  and,  being  near  the  very  spot  which  was 
the  stage  and  not  the  corner  on  which  these  things 
were  transacted,  he  would  be  enabled  to  produce 
incontestible  evidence  of  the  fulfilment  of  those 
predictions. 

4.  Philip  must  have  preached  the  triumphant 
resurrection  of  Christ ; 

And,  to  convince  them  of  the  truth  of 
that  essential  doctrine,  he  would  not  have  to 
resort  to  any  garbled  argument,  nor  any  "  cun- 
ningly-devised fable ;"  no,  nor  yet  to  the  pages  of 
ancient  or  modern  history,  but  to  clear  and  evi- 
dent facts,  which  transpired  on  the  public  platform 
of  their  own  neighbourhood,  and  which  must  have 
been  so  clear  and  evident  to  them,  as  to  put  to 
silence  the  sceptical  characters,  and  convince  the 
gainsayers. 

5.  Philip  preached  Christ  as  a  King  having  a 
kingdom,  and  mildly  swaying  his  sceptre  over  the 
same ;  and,  therefore,  he  preached 

1.  Christ's  capability  and  manner,  by  which  he 
would  overcome  all  his  enemies ;  and  here  I  ima- 
gine he  would  not  need  to  make  elaborate  discourses, 
in  order  to  convince  them  that  Christ's  enemies 
were  numerous,  formidable  in  their  strength,  and 
terrific  in  their  stately  combinations  ;  for  they  were 
at  that  time  eye-witnesses  of  the  superstitions  of  the 
Heathens,  the  spite  of  Pagans,  and  the  malice  of  the 
Jews,  all  of  which  combined  to  oppose  Christianity. 
The  very  first  thought  that  impressed  their  minds, 
the  first  moments  of  reflection  they  devoted  to  the 


17 

subject,  they  would  feel  irresistibly  convinced  that 
Christ's  opponents  were  more  numerous  than  any 
other  principality  or  kingdom  had  to  contend  with. 
Philip,  of  course,  would  take  this  opportunity  of 
exhibiting  the  glory  of  Christ,  by  showing  them  how 
he  would  overcome  his  innumerable,  combined,  and 
stately  enemies  ;  and,  in  doing  this,  he  did  not  pre- 
tend to  show  them  that  Christ  would  assume  any 
worldly  grandeur  to  work  upon  the  senses  of  his 
antagonists,  or  that  he  would  wield  a  powerful 
sword  to  subdue  their  inveterate  opposition,  or 
command  a  warlike  army  of  thousands  to  establish 
his  kingdom  in  the  world ;  but  he  would  show  them 
how  that  Christ  had  commissioned  his  disciples, 
men  of  no  name,  without  any  pretensions  to  worldly 
pomp  and  grandeur,  without  sword  in  their  hand,  or 
armies  to  command,  should  go  forth  and  make  a 
simple  statement  of  facts,  and  preach  the  gospel  of 
the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  that  the  gospel  which  was 
so  generally  despised,  should  subdue  kingdoms,  set 
men  right,  and  convert  them  to  its  glorious  truths. 

O  let  thy  kingdom  come,  great  God, 
Subdue  the  nations  round  : 
May  the  whole  earth  thy  Gospel  own, 
And  listen  to  its  sound  ! 

May  kingdoms  which  in  darkness  lie, 
Be  brought  beneath  its  light, 
Lay  down  their  weapons,  and  no  more 
Presume  with  thee  to  fight. 

May  Pagan  tribes  and  Indian  castes, 
Be  broken  and  subdued ; 
Give  them  to  feel  thy  sovereign  grace, 
Canst  raise  them  by  thy  Word. 

2.  Philip  preached  Christ  unto  them  as  a  King, 
who  had  enacted  laws  for  the  government  of  his 
kingdom,  and  also  described  the  nature  of  them ; 
and  while  exhibiting  the  goodness  of  those  laws,  he 
would  show  that  they  were  decreed  by  him  who 


18 

had  all  power,  and  that  they  were  signed  and  sealed 
by  him  who  had  spoken,  and  would  most  assuredly 
bring-  it  to  pass.  He  would  endeavour  to  convince 
them,  that  Christ  had  enacted  laws  for  the  govern- 
ment of  nations,  cities,  families,  masters  and  ser- 
vants ;  and,  that  as  far  as  they  were  governed  by 
them,  so  should  they  have  peace  in  this  life,  as  well 
as  an  hope  of  that  which  is  to  come. 

3.  PMlip  preached  Christ  the  King  of  Kings, 
and  Lord  of  Lords/  and  therefore  the  best  qualified 
to  remunerate  his  heroes,  his  warriors,  and  all  who 
enlisted  in  the  glorious  cause  of  subduing  kingdoms, 
promoting  righteousness,  and  evangelizing  the  earths 
The  truth  of  these  sentiments  may  be  shown  by 
consulting  those  words,  Col.  2,  9,  where  it  is  said 
that  Christ  possesses  all  fulness  ;  that  is,  a  fulness  of 
repentance  for  sin,  a  fulness  of  justification  for  the 
soul,  and  a  fulness  of  glorification  at  the  right  hand 
of  the  Majesty  on  high.  When  Christ  spoke  of  his 
people,  and  the  remuneration  with  which  he  will 
bless  them,  he  spoke  of  them  in  the  following 
manner :  "  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life,  and  they 
shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  man  pluck  them 
out  of  my  hand."  John,  10,28. 

Now  unto  Him  who  is  able  to  enlist  you  in  his 
cause,  to  help  you  to  fight  manfully  the  battle  of 
the  Lord,  and  to  crown  you  with  laurels  that  will 
never  fade,  and  with  glory  which  will  never  fall  from 
your  heads,  be  ascribed  all  honour,  might,  majesty, 
and  dominion,  now  and  for  ever.  Amen. 


ADDRESSED    TO    THE 

BAPTIST  DENOMINATION 

IN  GENERAL. 


A  LETTER, 

ADDRESSED    TO 

THE  BAPTIST  DENOMINATION 

IN    GENERAL, 

the  Members  of  those  Churches  composing 
the  New  York,  Warwick,  Hudson  River,  and 
Danbury  Associations,  in  particular. 

MY  CHRISTIAN  FRIENDS  : 

Whereas  a  number  of  the  members  composing 
the  above  Associations,  have  united  their  influence, 
and  exercised  the  utmost  of  their  power  to  load  my 
name  with  infamy,  and  sink  my  character  in  disgrace, 
I  take  the  liberty  of  laying  before  you  the  following 
remarks  : — 

I  was  always  an  admirer  of  the  American  Con- 
stitution. For  seven  years  past,  I  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  read  tho«°  wuiKs  which  are  abundantly 
circulated  "*  England  by  the  Americans,  for  the 
purpose  of  encouraging  the  spirit  of  emigration, 
therefore  it  is  nearly  that  time  since  I  first  made  up 
my  mind  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  and  place  my  feet  on 
your  land,  which  then  appeared  to  me  to  flow  with 
the  milk  of  political  freedom,  and  the  honey  of  reli- 
gious liberty. 

When  in  England,  I  was  one  among  the  many 
thousands  of  Baptists  who  approve  of  OPEN  COM- 
MTJNIONISM,*  and  when  I  arrived  in  this  country,  I 
fearlessly  avowed  the  doctrines  of  Open  Comniu- 
nionism  to  be  rivetted  on  my  mind,  inclosed  within 
my  heart,  and  stamped  on  the  pages  of  my  New 

*  OPEN  COMMUNIONISM  implies  that  we  admit  all  tho  Lord's 
people  to  participate  with  us  the  emblems  of  the  Lord'*  broken 
body,  and  the  spilling  of  his  blood. 


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